The New York Times - USA (2020-07-28)

THE NEW YORK TIMES, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 Y D3

Turret

PERSEVERANCE ROVER

The rover carries 19 cameras and a

drill to extract core samples from

rocks. It has aluminum wheels and a

suspension system to drive over

obstacles.

Robotic Arm

A turret with many

instruments is attached to

the 7-foot arm.

Antenna

Mast

Contains a laser

that will study the

chemistry of

Martian rocks.

SHERLOC

Will identify

molecules and

minerals to detect

potential

biosignatures,

with help from the

WATSON camera.

WATSON

Drill

Suspension

System

PIXL

Will identify

chemical elements

to seek signs of

past life on Mars.

Power Supply

Meet the 3 Spacecraft

Heading to Mars This Summer

Three spacecraft are setting out on a journey of millions of miles. Bound for Mars,
they carry an array of state-of-the-art instruments to explore the red planet.

BY ELEANOR LUTZ

Sources: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, China National Space Administration, China Central Television, NASA.

Hope

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Launched July 19

Hope was the first Mars-bound spacecraft
to launch this summer, and the first Mars
mission for the United Arab Emirates.

The orbiter will observe Mars from space,
forming a detailed picture of the planet’s
atmosphere and its weather with a suite of
imaging devices.

The mission is scheduled to last two years.
If all goes well, Hope will reach Mars in
February and join six other orbiters that are
currently studying the planet.

ORBITER

After the spacecraft reaches Mars, the

landing pod will detach from the orbiter and

descend to the planet’s surface.

The orbiter will remain in space for about

one Martian year and observe the planet

using seven instruments. It will also serve

as a communication relay between Earth

and the rover on the Martian surface.

Camera

Will capture

high-resolution

images of Mars.

Infrared Spectrometer

Will investigate dust, ice clouds, water vapor

and temperature in the lower atmosphere.

Ultraviolet Spectrometer

Will study carbon monoxide, hydrogen

and oxygen in the upper atmosphere.

Solar Panels

Unfurled after
launch to charge
the onboard
battery.

Antenna

A six-foot antenna is

communicating with Earth.

Thermal Blanket

A protective layer of

insulation around the

orbiter gives it a gold

appearance.

Hope is about 9 feet 10 inches tall and

weighs almost 3,000 pounds.

All spacecraft on this page are shown at

approximately the same scale.

Perseverance

UNITED STATES
Planned for Thursday

The NASA mission includes Perseverance, a
2,200-pound rover, and Ingenuity, an
experimental Mars helicopter. The Ingenuity
helicopter weighs about four pounds, and
will be the first to attempt powered flight on
another planet.

Tianwen-1

CHINA
Launched July 23

China is sending an orbiter, lander and
rover to Mars — the only mission this year
to attempt a three-pronged exploration.

Once Tianwen-1 reaches Mars, it will
remain in orbit around the planet for two or
three months before attempting a landing.

The rover’s mission is to study the water
and ice content in Martian soil, among
other scientific goals.

ROVER

Once on the surface,

a ramp will slide out

of the lander so the

rover can drive away.

The rover has two

sets of solar panel

wings that will unfurl

after landing.

Rotating Antenna Landing Pod

LANDER

A parachute attached to the

lander’s protective shell will

slow the descent. Next, a

set of struts will deploy in

midair. A thruster attached

to the bottom of the lander

will also help guide the

vehicle to a softer landing.

Ramp

Struts

Folding Wings

The orbiter’s large wings are designed to

store flat along the sides at launch, and

expand after the orbiter reaches space.

The bottom of the protective

heat shield will separate in

midair, allowing the landing

struts to unfurl.

The two inner wings,

attached to the sides of

the rover, will unfold

after the outer wings.

INGENUITY

HELICOPTER

Blades

Four carbon-fiber blades will

spin at about 2,400 r.p.m.

Solar Panel

LANDING

IN JEZERO

CRATER

1 2 3

A heat shield
will protect the
rover as the
spacecraft
enters the
Martian
atmosphere.

After the

spacecraft

enters the

atmosphere, a

parachute will

deploy to slow

the descent.

Next, the

heat shield

will separate

from the

bottom of the

landing pod.

The back shell

will separate to

release the sky

crane.

The sky crane,

powered by

retrorockets,

will lower the

rover slowly to

the ground.

Finally, the sky crane will fly away, leaving

the rover stationary on the ground.

Landing Legs

Heat Shield

Mast With Cameras